Member Avatar for invincyble

I have been using this wireless adapter for over a year now and in last few months it started freezing up my windows 2000 at any given time, sometimes I'm online for 6 hours and it will freeze, sometimes I'll turn the computer on (without even going online) and it freezes within 5 minutes.

Windows 2000 pro
service pack 4
Amd duron 1266 MHz
System Memory 384 MB (sdram)
linksys wireless G

Also i know it has something to due with the wireless adapter, because their have been plenty of times where i have had the PC on for 8-12 hours (while its defragmenting or playing games, Etc.) and its has not frozen. the entire time the wireless adapter was plugged in though.

ANY help at all is appreciated

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Dani AI

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Given 's detail that the system only freezes when the Linksys wireless monitor starts, the most likely culprits are the adapter driver/utility, a USB power/hub interaction, or a software conflict that only appears when the monitor scans. 's suggestion to test with a wired NIC is a good definitive check, but a targeted isolation sequence will usually find the root faster.

Recommended troubleshooting sequence:

  1. Disable the Linksys monitor from startup (msconfig or Add/Remove Programs) and boot with the adapter plugged in but the monitor not running. If the freezes stop, the monitor/utility is the trigger.
  2. Try a different USB port (prefer rear motherboard ports) and avoid front-panel hubs. If stability improves, suspect USB power/hub or port hardware. A powered USB hub is a useful test.
  3. Cleanly uninstall the adapter drivers (Device Manager, remove hidden devices), reboot, then install either the latest driver or a known-stable older driver — test both with and without the monitor/utility. Prefer driver-only operation while debugging.
  4. Use msconfig to do a selective startup (disable non-Microsoft services) to catch antivirus/firewall/management software conflicts that may hook the network stack.

Collect diagnostic evidence: after a freeze check Event Viewer (System and Application) for errors at the exact timestamp and note any driver filenames or service names. If a BSOD appears, record the STOP code and any driver referenced. Enabling crash dumps or Dr Watson on Windows 2000 will provide a definitive module name if the system is crashing to a dump.

If the adapter still causes freezes on a second PC, it is likely hardware; pursue replacement/RMA. If it is only on this machine, prioritize chipset/USB host-controller driver updates or a BIOS update. If the monitor/utility proves to be the culprit, avoid running it and use driver-only operation or replace the adapter with a model whose Windows 2000 drivers are known stable.

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Member Avatar for chrisbliss18

From your experiences that you listed, I don't see how you conclusively decided that it's an issue with your wireless adapter. One way you can check is to remove the card and it's drivers from the system, install a wired NIC card, connect directly to the router using a cable, and try everything that you know usually causes a crash. If a crash happens, it's not the wireless card. Are you able to run this test?

Have you tried running scans to see if your computer has any virus or spyware issues? You can use the link in the bottom of my sig to clean up your machine.

Member Avatar for invincyble

well its like I said

it ONLY happens when I sign on to the USB WLAN monitor v2.0 other wise it doesn't happen, and I use the computer a lot.

and its only when I sign on, because the wireless adapter stays plugged in when I use the computer otherwise and it doesn't freeze.

so what else can it be ? I know it may be ant other program or something interfering with the adapter, but its only when I start up the adapter that a problem occurs

anyone have anything like this happen?

Member Avatar for chrisbliss18

What do you mean by "sign in"? Typical wireless setups connect to the wireless access point as soon your system starts.

What's the model number of your wireless adapter?

Member Avatar for invincyble

"sign in" by refreshing to find the best signal and connect to it (i should have worded that better the first time)

could it have anything to do with the device overheating, or my computer supplying enough power?

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